Korean Job Discussion Forums

rhian · Joined: 22 Jan 2004

hey

my working hours are getting progressively worse.

i understand the average hogwan day is 6 hours.

my week ranges from 8- 11 hours a day.

i do not exceed 30 teaching hours a week but the classes are drawn out so one day I will do kindergarten at 10:30 and finish my last adult class at 9.

Originally I was told 2-9.

Anyone do similar? Think I'm going to tell them I'm unhappy today....wish me luck!

SweetBear · Joined: 18 May 2003

I do one in the morning, three in the afternoon, one in the evening. I's a long day. Go ahead and tell them you're unhappy if you are. Don't turn it into WW3 though...
I think many people do spilt shifts in this business. Sad

rhian · Joined: 22 Jan 2004

main problem is that my flat is half an hour away so i'm stuck at school al this time, which aint fun.

oneiros · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Location: Villa Straylight

SweetBear · Joined: 18 May 2003

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

if the hours in your contract are listed as 2-9 point it out and tell them that they are in violation.

If the hours in your contract are 30 hours a week they can pretty much screw you around as much as they want.

It sucks when they lie to you upfront and then change things.

If you can stick it out stay if not find another job

rhian · Joined: 22 Jan 2004

unfortunately, i am the only foreign teacher and, doubly unfortunately, i live in andong!

they do take the pish don't they.

the chinese teacher here is contracted in to do thirty hours but is in Mon Fri 10-10 and plays the role of nanny, secretary, skivvy.

ah well, we shall see how it pans out and like you say, if it gets to bad- walk.

ghostshadow · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Location: Seoul

peppermint · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 12:50 am Post subject:

Gang- you get paid for time in the classroom- not time away from home, and the average amount of time in the classroom is six hours a day. You aren't entitled to more pay, but you could try asking ( very nicely) if they could move you to an appartment closer to work.

Juggertha · Joined: 27 May 2003 Location: Anyang, Korea

jeez Pep, I thought the average was 5 hours a day?

heh, guess i've got it good then

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

My earliest start is 3 and my latest finish is 9 and I'm at the hagwon an average of 4.5 hours a day and thats including prep work.

I'm glad I looked around a landed this job,beside the middle school girls problems which have settles down.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Dear Peppermint

You only get paid for time in class? Do you do any prep? Any marking? Any other activities?

To say that you should only get paid for time in class is an insult.

You should do about 5 minutes of unpaid prep per class anything over that should be paid. If an institute expects the teacher to put in 30 hours of classtime do they expect any prep time? If I am only being paid for time in class that is all they get.

Statements like that hurt the teachers situation here in Korea.

You should work a maximum of 6 hours a day. If your contract states 2-9 thats all they get anything outside of that is overtime if they dont like it they can find another sap to work for them.

nuff said

Whats that dumbass? You cant find a teaching job anymore so you are off to Guam Laughing

peppermint · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 5:26 am Post subject:

Should, should should. . .

I'm not saying how it should be, I'm telling the OP how it is, the hagwon owner figures teaching time only is paid. When I was below hours at some of the teaching gigs, I had to do editing work to make up for it. If I'd said I'd do prep- they'd laugh at me.

When I did the hagwon gig, I never had to do marking, cause I taught adults, but I definitely did prep, including close to an hour a day hunting down freetalking topics.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

I know what you mean.

But if you stand up to them and state upfront, politely and firmly what you will allow they will often back off.

Some things many teachers here need to remember is:

They have invested a few thousand dollars in getting you here, airfare, recruiter fees and are in no hurry to see you leave.

They need you more than you need them.

There are so many jobs out there that there is no reason to put up with intolerable situations.

If you wear your doormat sign on your back they WILL walk all over you. They always like to ask for more.

I've said it before I will say it again............Just say 'no' to hogwan owners.

rhian · Joined: 22 Jan 2004

my contract just says 30 hours, 4 hours admin is also expected (though not enforced).

i am a naive new comer and will know better next time!

it's only for three weeks until thing get turned on there heads again.

the key to surviving these situation really is to get out and clear your head for a bit in between classes.